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Recycling and Mining
RECYCLING,
MINING AND
SLURRY DISPOSAL/ SEPARATION
THE PROBLEM WE ARE TRYING TO HELP SOLVE.
Our society faces a significant problem relating to our landfills and resources. As space in our landfills diminishes, it becomes important to preserve the precious space by diverting any product that can be recycled. The mining industry provides a recycle service by taking concrete, asphalt, and other rubble generated in construction and demolition (C&D) and uses it to make a recycled product that is in many circumstances better than the 100% native product. This also helps preserve resources for projects that cannot use a recycled product.
THE PROCESS (Recycling or Mining)
The process is simple--Make little rocks from big rocks. Crushed stone and sand and gravel are the main forms of natural aggregate used in the United States. Aggregate is used in nearly all residential, commercial, industrial building construction and in most public-works projects such as roads and highways, bridges, railroad beds, dams, airports, water and sewer systems, and tunnels. Construction of one mile of four-lane interstate highways requires 85,000 tons of aggregate. An average six room house requires 90 tons of aggregate.
Crushed stone or aggregate is crushed rock, boulders, or large cobbles. It tends to be angular with sharp edges. Most crushed stone is quarried from bedrock that is blasted, mined, crushed, and then processed into aggregate. Because aggregate is a high-bulk, low-cost commodity, the transportation cost to the construction site is a significant part of the total cost. Therefore, it is commonly used within 20 miles of the place of extraction.
Aggregate is produced from open pits in three major steps: (1) site preparation, (2) mining or extraction, and (3) processing. Site preparation consists of preparing the site and construction of berms, roadways, and processing equipment. Mining/extraction is removing the material from the deposit and transporting it to the processing equipment. Processing involves equipment such as dozers, loaders, crushers, screens and other equipment to process the aggregate into a finished product.
While production is occurring, so is the reclamation of the site. Aggregate mining is generally viewed as an interim use of the land.It is not the final use. The goal of reclamation is to return the land to an alternative beneficial use. Residential developments are a popular use for reclaimed sites. Reclaimed pits or quarries have also been converted to industrial and commercial properties or to office parks, golf courses, parks and recreation areas, storm-water management, or farmland.
Our society faces a significant problem relating to our landfills and resources. As space in our landfills diminishes, it becomes important to preserve the precious space by diverting any product that can be recycled. The mining industry provides a recycle service by taking concrete, asphalt, and other rubble generated in construction and demolition (C&D) and uses it to make a recycled product that is in many circumstances better than the 100% native product. This also helps preserve resources for projects that cannot use a recycled product.
THE PROCESS (Recycling or Mining)
The process is simple--Make little rocks from big rocks. Crushed stone and sand and gravel are the main forms of natural aggregate used in the United States. Aggregate is used in nearly all residential, commercial, industrial building construction and in most public-works projects such as roads and highways, bridges, railroad beds, dams, airports, water and sewer systems, and tunnels. Construction of one mile of four-lane interstate highways requires 85,000 tons of aggregate. An average six room house requires 90 tons of aggregate.
Crushed stone or aggregate is crushed rock, boulders, or large cobbles. It tends to be angular with sharp edges. Most crushed stone is quarried from bedrock that is blasted, mined, crushed, and then processed into aggregate. Because aggregate is a high-bulk, low-cost commodity, the transportation cost to the construction site is a significant part of the total cost. Therefore, it is commonly used within 20 miles of the place of extraction.
Aggregate is produced from open pits in three major steps: (1) site preparation, (2) mining or extraction, and (3) processing. Site preparation consists of preparing the site and construction of berms, roadways, and processing equipment. Mining/extraction is removing the material from the deposit and transporting it to the processing equipment. Processing involves equipment such as dozers, loaders, crushers, screens and other equipment to process the aggregate into a finished product.
While production is occurring, so is the reclamation of the site. Aggregate mining is generally viewed as an interim use of the land.It is not the final use. The goal of reclamation is to return the land to an alternative beneficial use. Residential developments are a popular use for reclaimed sites. Reclaimed pits or quarries have also been converted to industrial and commercial properties or to office parks, golf courses, parks and recreation areas, storm-water management, or farmland.
